In this newletter:

• Personal Update
• New Book Debuts Today!
• New Podcast Audio Features!
• Yesterday's Miracle on the Mississippi

We are aboard American Cruise Line's debut cruise along the Arkansas River! It is a beautiful and fascinating adventure. We've enjoyed debuting new enrichment presentations that are the culmination of months of research and preparation. Yesterday was a wild day with some shocking news, but more on that later in the newsletter.

NEW BOOK RELEASES TODAY!

My newest History Highlights book, Shaping American Identity: Public Events That Defined the Nation, is now available. This book looks at American history from an unusual perspective.

Instead of beginning with presidents, wars, legislation, or elections, it asks us to join the crowd. Stand among thousands welcoming Lafayette back to America. Watch Governor DeWitt Clinton lead an epic celebration to open the Erie Canal. Listen as Abraham Lincoln delivers a few carefully chosen words at Gettysburg.

Witness the Golden Spike ceremony, a legendary Mississippi River steamboat race, the Centennial Exposition, the dedication of the Statue of Liberty, and the spectacular world's fairs that introduced millions of Americans to new inventions, architecture, entertainment, and ideas. Then stand among the enormous crowd gathered before the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 as Martin Luther King Jr. challenges America to fulfill its founding promises.

Individually, many of these are familiar stories. Put them together, and something interesting happens. They reveal generations of Americans repeatedly asking the same questions: Who are we? What have we accomplished? What do we value? And are we living up to the ideals we celebrate?

That's the larger story of Shaping American Identity. You'll discover connections between events separated by decades, see familiar monuments and celebrations in a different context, and explore both the accomplishments Americans proudly displayed and the contradictions those celebrations sometimes tried to overlook.

As with all my History Highlights books, you don't need to be a history buff to enjoy it. The goal is to make the larger story understandable without burying it beneath unnecessary detail. Because American identity wasn't created at a single moment. Generation after generation helped shape it—in public, together. Shaping American Identity is available now.

To promote early reviews, we am offering you the eBook edition for only 99 cents! Nice paperbacks are only $10, and the nifty audiobook is $8. To get your copy today, just CLICK HERE.​

Remember, please leave a review! It takes only a few seconds and helps so much. Just CLICK HERE.​

NEW PODCAST AUDIO FEATURES: Untied States Expansion

I am so glad so many of you are enjoying the chapter by chapter brief audio feature podcasts highlighting my United States Expansion book. Although originally exclusively for our Patreon Member Supporters, almost all of them are now unlocked, and the remainder will be in the next few days. To check them out, CLICK HERE.​

Just FYI - We also will soon have a new podcast season which will highlight my new Shaping American Identity book. Stay tuned!

MIRACLE ON THE MISSISSIPPI

We just wanted to confirm that we are safely cruising the Arkansas River. Many of you have likely heard that an out of control cargo ship collided with the American Heritage riverboat today at New Orleans. The scene was chaotic and terrifying as the ship listed and eventually rolled onto its side. Thankfully, the mayor of New Orleans late this afternoon reported that all guests and crew are accounted for. Some were taken to local hospitals, but reportedly there are no critical injuries. Bizarre accidents can occur to any of us at any time, but this events really hit home. We extend our prayers for all involved. High compliments to the American Heritage crew and the widescale rescue efforts for their actions that aided the outcome.

We are so grateful for our cruise career, and the wonderful guests and crew that we meet, and for you as part of this special online community and faithful readers.

We send you all the best,

Bill and Laura